December 16, 2022

December 16, 2022


From the Principal's Desk

Hello, Theuerkauf Families!

This is an exciting time of year, and we are certainly enjoying so many winter festivities around Theuerkauf. In the library and in their classes, students are learning about cultural traditions around the world that take place throughout the month of December. Students and staff will enjoy some fun Theuerkauf holiday spirit days next week as we prepare for the winter break: Monday will be Wacky Socks Day, Tuesday will be Holiday Sweater Day, and Wednesday will be Pajama Day. We will also host several fun lunchtime activities for students to enjoy.

Throughout all of our celebrations, it is extremely important to remember that winter viruses are on the rise. As the weather gets colder and we spend more time indoors, we need to keep our guard up against germs. As a reminder, our District requires masking for everyone at large indoor events, such as holiday parties, concerts, etc.

The following simple tips will help prevent severe illness and hospitalization from the flu, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). 

 

Five tips to help prevent winter viruses:

  • Get vaccinated, boosted and treated

  • Stay home if you are sick and test for COVID

  • Wear a mask in indoor public spaces to reduce spread

  • Wash your hands often

  • Cover your cough or sneeze

Additionally, MVWSD is sending home free COVID tests for every student and staff member before winter break so that you can test before returning to school in January. Please see the details in the letter that is included with the test kits or in the digital link below (under District News). Stay well!

Please be sure to check out some of the ways that your family can give back to others in the school news section below. We look forward to seeing everyone next week!

 

Warmly,

Michelle Williams, Principal


Important Dates

Friday, December 16~ Spirit Day- Matching Day - dress like a friend or wear cheetah print!

Monday, December 19~ Spirit Day- Sock Day (Wacky or Holiday Socks)

Tuesday, December 20~ Spirit Day- Holiday Sweater Day

Wednesday, December 21~ Spirit Day- Pajama Day 

Thursday, December 22~ January 8~ Holiday Break - No School

Monday, January 9~ Teacher Service Day - No School

Tuesday, January 10~ Students Return to School 

Monday, January 16~ Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day - No School

School News

Please Vote! Theuerkauf Cheetah Logo Refresh

We are preparing to refresh our beloved Cheetah logo so that it is updated for publications. Will you please weigh in on some of the designs that have been constructed? Please click the following link to share your thoughts about these designs as you consider what you would like to see in our updated Cheetah. We want all staff and families to share their thoughts so that we can ensure that our logo embodies what we value and celebrate as a learning community. Thanks in advance for sharing your thoughts!

 

Library Corner

Thanks to the Theuerkauf PTA, the library now has some soft, lovely seating for Cheetahs to lounge on as they read their library books. New rugs and floor seating is also on the way to help create a warm, cozy environment for our Cheetahs. 

Every day, the library is adding new books to the shelves across all genres. PTA and family donations have been supportive in updating and expanding the offerings for students. You can see which books have made it to the shelves on Destiny Discover, and soon students will be able to see curated lists made by Mrs. Baikie on Destiny Discover. 

Please remind your students to bring their library books to school each day so that they can return them during their library class sessions. Having students put library books in their backpacks at the end of the day is a great way to make sure they have them at school. 

Giving back: Families have asked how to help the library; here’s a list of ways! 

  • Donate gently used, age appropriate books to the library. Mrs. B is specifically looking to expand offerings in foreign languages for all ages. 

  • Donate gift cards from local independent bookstores (Books Inc, Linden Tree) or from Barnes & Noble and Amazon. Teacher discounts help gift cards purchase more books.

  • Purchase books from the library wishlists on Amazon or Bookshop.org

  • Volunteer your graphic design skills to make posters and signs. Or, volunteer to work in the library, helping to prepare books for the shelves. You can also volunteer to help with an upcoming book fair in April 2023. 

  • Keep reading with your students. Encourage them to tell you about what they are reading. 

District News

Please use your free COVID test after winter break

MVWSD is providing at-home COVID-19 testing kits for free to families and staff members so that you may test before returning to campus after the winter break. A box containing one test will be sent home with each student this week so that you can test on Jan. 9 before students return to school on Tuesday, Jan. 10.  Please see this letter for what to do after testing. Thank you for participating in this safety measure to help ensure all of our students and staff stay healthy. 

 

Next year’s district calendar is available now!

The 2023-24 district calendar is now available online here

 

Open Enrollment for 2023-24 starts in January

In January, the Mountain View Whisman School District will be opening student enrollment for next fall. 

For CURRENT students in transitional kindergarten-7th grade: Parents will be asked by email to confirm enrollment from January 24 to February 10.

For families enrolling NEW students: Please check www.mvwsd.org/register for details about virtual school information meetings held in January, how to locate your neighborhood school, how to explore school options and the four steps to register during the enrollment period held January 24 to February 10. 

 

Better Together: Exploring Differences

For the month of December, we explore how our experiences are similar to and different from those of people from different backgrounds. We will also explore Disability Awareness while building literacy around this important topic. The resources linked through the digital copy of this infographic (attached) help you and your students explore themselves and others respectfully and meaningfully with activities meant to enlarge our perspectives about people with disabilities. Please see https://www.mvwsd.org/bettertogethermvwsd.

 

The View Teen Center: December 

The View Teen Center is a free facility in Mountain View (263 Escuela Ave) for all Mountain View and Los Altos 6th - 12th grade students. The center is open Monday through Friday: 3:30 - 7 p.m. and Saturday: 1 - 6 p.m, and features a game room, makerspace, kitchen, computer/study room, outdoor area, and much more! See attached flyer for details about upcoming December events and programs or visit their webpage for more information.

 

Health and Wellness Parenting Tip: Instructions

We give our kids dozens of instructions each day: Get ready for school. Wash your hands before you eat. Do your homework. Sometimes our kids follow our instructions, and sometimes they do not. One way to increase follow through is to give effective instructions. For example, making eye contact with your child and gently telling them to turn off the TV is likely to be more effective than yelling at them from another room.

 

To provide effective instructions:

Think about a few things that you would like your child to do and try using these tips to provide effective instructions.

Instead of saying…                Say….

“Don’t bother me.”                “Please work on your homework.”

“TURN OFF THE TV!!”            “Please turn off the TV.”

“I told you to stop playing video games.”    “If you don’t stop playing video games in the next 5 

minutes, then you won’t be able to play tomorrow.”

 

These tips came directly from the free, online Everyday Parenting program created by parenting expert, Dr. Kazdin.

To learn more parenting tips click here

 

Attachments

The Teen Center 


Website by SchoolMessenger Presence. © 2024 SchoolMessenger Corporation. All rights reserved.